French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Qatar on Saturday after meeting with regional leaders at the COP28 conference in Dubai to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas, POLITICO reports.
The French president will also hold talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of a climate summit in Dubai.
Macron’s visit to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan last month was marred by controversy when the president proposed an international coalition to defeat Hamas, an idea that has caused alarm in Arab countries.
Macron will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to meet regional leaders before starting his COP28 programme on Friday afternoon. In Doha, the French president is expected to press Qatar to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas since the 7 October attack on Israel.
Qatar has been playing a mediating role in talks with Hamas leaders and recently brokered a six-day truce. Five French nationals are still believed to be held captive by Hamas after three French teenagers were released earlier this week.
